Lever-control system.



c. w. ROBINSON & E. BASEMAN LEVER CONTROL SYSTEM.

APPLICAHON FILED MAY 3. I915 Patented Dec. 18, 1917.

2 7222573 U/wrZes 505 may Er/zcSZIBwemn UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES W. ROBINSON AND ERNEST BASEMAN, OF HAMILTON, ONTARIO, CANADA,

ASSIGNORS, BY MESNE AS$IGNMENTS, TO INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER CORPORA- TION, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

LEVER-CONTROL SYSTEM.

Application filed May 3, 15115.

' means therefor.

In the operation of motor vehicles and of variable speed power installations of various descriptions, it is a well-known fact that serious damage may be done to motors and transmission systems if some precaution is not taken in shifting the gears for changing the speed and going to and from reverse movement connections. e are aware of the fact that many safety devices have been provided to prevent accidental or reckless shifting of gears for changing speed and reversing. Many of these devices are unnecessarily complex and inefficient.

It, therefore, is the main object of our present invention to simplify and improve such safety devices for lever control sys tems to render the same more fool-proof.

A further object is to improve the cooperative action between a suitable control member and a safety stop member associated therewith.

These and other objects areaccomplished by providing in a lever control system a lever movable from one position to'another for controlling purposes, and means normally in the path of movement of said lever for preventing said lever from being acci. dentally orrecklessly thrown to an operative position; said means including a yieldably mounted guiding member for causing the lever to assume a neutral position in its movement from one operative position to another. I The invention 1S llll1Stl1l3G(l on the accompanylng sheet of drawings, in Wl110h Figure 1 is aplan view, parts including the'control lever being in section, of a lever control system embodying our invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing-the con- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 18, 1917.

Serial No. 25,584.

trol lever in a different operative position "from that shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. '3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the lever control system with the parts arranged as shown in lfiig. 2; and

r Fig. l a plan view, parts being in sect on, showing a niodificatibn of our invention.

The various novel features of our invention will be apparent from the following description and drawings. and will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

.We have chosen to illustrate our invent on in c nnccti m with a lever control systen] particularly adapted for use in connec tion with a motor vehicle. However, its use is not necessarily so limited, for it ay find application in connection with any power installation where it is necessary to shift a part or part from one position to another for speed control and reversing purposes.

Referring paiticularly to auto vehicle's, it is well-lniown that a greatdeal of damage may be done to the operating parts, including the motor and transmission system, by recklessly changing the gearconnections from one position to another; for instance, in changing the speed connections from a certain speed forward, to one in which the vehicle will be given a backward, or reverse motion. These speed and direction changes are usually made through the actuation of a control lever, such as a control lever shown iii-the figures of the drawings. This control lever 1.0 is pivotally mounted for uni\''ersal movement at 11 in any well-known standard. manner to a depending frame 12 suitably secured adjacent an Hplate 1'3, which maybe supported in any approved manner by a member 14 having an opening for receiving downwardly extending flange l'iortions 15 of the H-plate 13. This H- shaped control plate is standard in so far as it includes twolongitiulinally extemling parallel passageways 1G and 1.7, the right hand end of the passageway 16 being the position taken by the control lever 10 when the speed changing gearing is in the first or low speed forward position; the left-hand end. of the passageway 16' being the one in which the lever 10 is located when the gearing'takes a position to cause reverse or bacle ward movement of the vehicle. When the and letter R lever 10 is in the lefti-hand end of the passageway 17 the gears are in a position corresponding to second or intermediate speed forward, and when the lever is in the right hand end of the passageway 7 the gears are in a position corresponding to third or high speed forward. First, second and third speeds forward and the reverse are indicated, respectively, by numerals 1, 2 and 3 in'the proper positions on the plate '13.

As shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the control lever 10 is in a position correspond ing to the first speed forward. If it is desired to change the gear connections so that the direction of movement of the vehicle is reversed, the same may be accomplished by throwing the lever from position 1 to position R. As above set forth, a great deal of damage may be done to the motor and transmission parts if the lever is accidentally or recklessly thrown from first speed forward position to the reverse movement position. To prevent any disastrous results in changing the gearing connections through the operation of the hand control lever 10, we have. provided means lying normally in the path of movement of the lever 10 when it is operated in a'manner to change the gearing connections from first speed forward to a position corresponding to reverse movement of the vehicle.

This safety or fool-proof means includes a stop member1'8 slidabl offset pocket portion 19 orined in the H- plate 13, the laterally extending restricted leg portion 20 of the stop member 18 being slida'ble through an opening 21 in the offset portion 19. An enlarged head portion 22 of the stop member 18 normally lies in the path of movement of the control lever 10 as it passes from position 1 to reverse motion position, and is yieldingly held in such path of movement by a resilient member or spring 23, one end of saidspring engaging a socket portion 24 in the head 22, .and the other end of the spring being fitted over a projection 25 formed on the inner side of the offset'po'rtion 1510f the H-plate. This spring 23 normally forces the head 22 inwardly with respect to the passageway 16 to a limit controlled by suitable means, such as a cotter pin .26 which passes vertically through the outside end of the leg20 and engages the outside of the offset portion 19. The spring 23 also normallv holds the stop member against the shoulder 27 of the H- plate 13. i

When the lever is thrown from its right hand position in the passageway 16 toward the reverse position, the lever passes into engagement with the head 22 of the stop member in a manner to force the stop memher against the action of'the spring 23, to the dott ed line position. shown in Fig. 1, in

mounted in an which it will be noted that the left-hand side of the head 22 engages another portion 28 of the. H-plate 13. If further force is applied to the lever 10 at this time in the same direction, said control lever will follow inwardly along the right-hand surfaceof the head 22 and be guided into a central neutral position 29, as shown in dotted line position in Fig. 1. When the lever has passed out of engagement with the stop member 18 andinto the neutral position 29, the stop member 18 assumes its normal posi tion under the action of the spring 23.' The movement of the control lever 10 may now be continued from its neutral position toward the reverse movement position by moving the said control lever toward and against the head 22 of the stop member 18, causing said stop member 18 to be moved laterally and outwardly against the action of the spring until the head 22- has passed into the pocket a sui'licient amount to permit the control lever 10 to pass-onwardly to the left and into the reverse movement position. The control lever 10 is shown in such reverse movement position in Fig. 2, and it will be noted that the stop member is re tained in the position to which it has been forced due to the fact that the lever 10 does not pass out of engagement with the inside surface 30 of t 1e stop member. It is clear, furthermore. that the right-hand movement of the lever 10 may be readily accomplished, but it is to be noted that the stop member, through the actidp of the compressed spring 23, forces the lever 10 against the wall 31 of the H-plate in aun'anner such that when the. end of thewall reached the spring 23 will have a tendenpy to force the control lever back into a neutral position. The lever 10 may then be thrown-back into the first speed forward position' by pushing the lever sidcwardlyagainst theaction of the spring 23, and then to the right .in the passageway 16.

It is to be noted that this stop member 18 not only stops the progressive movement of the lever 10 from moving directly from one operative position to another, but also acts to guide the control lever 10 into a Central neutral position. The movement of the stop member itself is compound in effect in that it has a backward and forward movement as well as a lateral movement. It might be said that itpartakes of a pivotal movement without actually being pivoted.

In Fig. 4; we have shown a modlficat-ion of our invention, having two offsets or-pock- 19 and 19 in which are mounted 0ppositely arranged stop members 18 and 18, the heads of which tively, with the tapered or cam portions 33 and 33. Thecontrol lever 10 is provided with oppositely disposed tapered or cam portions 34 and 34 adapted to cooperate,

125. are provlded, respecalong the pass:-ige\v: 1y

respectively, with the cam portions 33 and 33 of the stop members. i

When the lever is thrown from its lefthand position in the passageway 1.6 toward the first speed forward position, the cam portion 3a of the lever will-engage the cooperating cam portion 33 of the stop member 18 causing said stop member to move laterally against the action of the spring 23 and out of the path of movement of the lever, thus permitting the latter to pass on to a point Where it will be forced into the neutral position 29 by the act on oi the spring 23iupon the head 22, which at such time will bear against the outer face of the lever. In case the lever were moved very rapidly to the right, and under certain conditions, the spring 25 might not be soiliiently active to force it into the neutral po- 5 tion, to eliminate which possibility the opppsitely arranged stop member 18' is pro- Zded. In the event that such a CHCUIH- stance exists, the right-hand side of the Clint/r01 lever will engage the left-hand side 0 t the head 22 of the stop member 18 in amanner to swing the latter from its nor- 1 .ial position against the action oi the spring 513 until the right-hand side of the head engages a portion 28 of the H-plate, at which time the said member will act not only as a stop to arrest further progress of the lever 16, but also as means for guiding saidlever into the neutral position v. hen further force is applied thereto assisted by the action of the spring llhcn the lever has passed out olf ei'igagement with the stop member 18 and into the neutralp( sition, the stop member assumcs its normal position under the actlon of the spring The moveinentof the control lever 10 may now be continued from its neutral position toward the first speed forward position by moving said control lever toward and against the heads QEZ-and 22-" of the stop members 18 and 18, respecti sly, causing said stop members to be movedslaterally and outwardly against the action of the spring and 23, respectively, until the heads 22 and 22 have passed into the pockets 19 and 1,9 a suliicient amount to permit the control lever 10 to pass onwardly to the right and into the first speed forward position.

It will be observed that the converse to this operation will accompany the movement of the control lever in the opposite direc tion; that is, from the first speed forward position to the reverse position. This modification finds particular application where the passage way 16 is of such length and the stop members 1'8 such diinensionsthat the lever passes beyond the stop members when said lever is in either the reverse movement position or the first speed forward position, the form of and 18 and lBVGl 10 are of the sto members and cooperating parts being suc 1 as to positively guide and move the control lever into the neutral position Whenever the said lever is moved in either direction along the passageway 16.

By means of the arrangement herein disclosed, we have provided a simple, inexpen sive and efficient fool-proof device for use in connection with a control lever, which may be effective in connection with changing speeds and direction of movement of a motor vehicle or operative parts of a power plant. It isevident that there may be various modifications of our invention other than those herein particularly shown and described, and it is our intention to cover all such modifications which do not involve a departure from its spirit and scope.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A lever control system comprising a lever movable from one position to another, and means normally in the path of move ment of said lever for causing said lever to assume a neutral position in its movement from one operative position to another.

A lever control system comprising a lever movable from one position to another, and yieldably mounted means normally in the path of movement of said lever for causing said lever to assume a neutral position in its movement from one operative position to another. 7

A lever control system comprising a levor movable from one position to another, and syningpressed. laterally movable means normally in the path of n'iovernent of said.

ciated with the reverse position normally in the path of movel'nent of said lever for causing said lever to pass into a neutral position before said lever can pass into said reverseposition.

A lever control system comprising a lever movable from one position to another for controlling purposes, and a stop membcr normally in the path of movement of said lever for interrupting the movement of said lover and guiding it into a neutral position.

6. A lever control system comprising a lever movable lrom one position to another for controlling purposes, a' stop member normally in the path of movement of said lever for interrupting the movement of said lever and guiding it into a neutral position, and'means by which said stop member may be forced laterally to permit said lever to move into an operative position.

7. A lever control system comprising a lever movable from one position to another normally inthe path of movement of said lever for causing it to assume a neutral position in its movement from one operative position to another.

8. A lever control system comprising a levcrmovable from one position to another for controlling purposes, and a springpressed slidably mounted member for causing said control lever to pass into a neutral position in its movement from one operative position to another. Y

9. A lever control system comprising a lever movable from one position to another. for controlling purposes, a spring-pressed slida'bly mounted member for causing said control lever to pass into a neutral position in its movement from one operative position to another, and means for limiting the movement of said stop member.

10. A lever control system comprising a lever movable from one position to another, a control plate having a plurality of passageways in which said lever is movable, said control plate having an offset pocket portion independent of said passageways, and a laterally yieldably mounted member in said pocket portion adapted to interrupt a direct movement of said control lever from one operative position to another.

11. A. lever control system comprising .1 lever'movable from one position to another, a control plate having a plurality of passageways in which said lever is movable, said control plate having an otl set pocket portion independent of said passageways, a stop member yieldably mounted in said pocket portion for a lateral movement therein and adapted to interrupt a direct movement of said control lever from one operative posh tionto another, and a spring in said pocket portion pressing against said stop member to normally hold it in the path of move ment of said lever.

12. A lever control system com 'n'ising a lever movable from one position to another, a control plate havinga plurality of passageways in which said lever is movable, said control plate having an oflsct pocket portion independent of said passageways, a laterally movable slop member vicldal'ily mounted in said pocket portion and adapted to interrupt a direct movement of said control. lever from one operative posilioh to another, and means for limiting av lateral movement of said stop member.

13. A' lever control system comprising :1 lever movable from one position to another, a control plalchaving a plurality of passageways in which said lcvcr is movable, said control plate having an oitset pocket portion ilnllcpcndcni of said passage\\'ays, '.i laterally movable stop member yleldably mounted in said pocket portion and adapted to interrupt a direct movement of said control lever from one operative position to another, a spring in said pocket portion press ing' against said stop member to normally hold it in the path of movement of said lever, and means for limiting a lateral move ment of said stop member.

14. A lever control system comprising a lever movable from one position to another for controlling purposes, a control plate hav-" ing a plurality of passageways in which said lever is movable, said plate having an offset pocket portion independent of said passageways, a cam stop member mounted in said pocket portion, and having a portion for guiding the lever into a given position, a spring in said pocket portion engaging said stop member to normally hold it in the path of movement of said lever, and a pin for limiting the movement of said stop member toward the path of movement of said lever.

15. A lever control system comprising a lever movable from one position to another for control purposes, n'ieans associated with the reverse positions normally in the path of movement of said lever for causing said lever to pass to a neutral position before said lever can pass into said reverse position, and means associated with the first speed forivard position normally in the path of move ment of said lever for causing said lever to pass into a neutral position before said lever can pass into said first speed forward position.

16. A lever control system comprising a. lever movable from reverse position to first speed for and position, a control plate in which said lever is movable, said plate having a plurality of oii'set pocket portions, a stop member yieldably mounted in one oi" said pocket portions normally in the path of movement of said lever and adapted to guide said lever into a neutral position before said lever can pass int-o said first speed forward position, and a second stop member yield ably 'mounted in the other of said offset pocket portions normally in the path of movement of said lever and adapted to guide said lcv-cr into a neutral position'before said lever can pass into said reverse position.

'17. A lever control system comprising a lover movable from one position to another, a control plate having a plurality of passageways in which said lever is movable, said control plate having a plurality of offset pocket portions independent. of said passagmvays. a stop member yieldably mounted in each oi said pocket portions for lateral movement therein and adapted to interrupt a .direct movement of said control lever from one operative position to another vs rings. in said pocket portions pressing against said stop members to normally hold associated with said positions normally f" Witnesses:

them in the fpath of movement of said lever, before said lever can pass from. either of 1 and means 1 limiting a, lateral movement said mentioned positions to the other. of .sald stop members. In testimony whereoftve afiix our signa- 18. A lever control system comprlsmg a tures, 1n the resence of two-witnesses.

lever movable between first and reverse C ARLES W. ROBINSON; speed positions for control purposes means ERNEST BASEMAN.

the path of movement of said lever for e'i'w J 01in H. DAVIDSON; ing said lever to pass into a neutral position J. G. HUGHES. 

